Tile setting template

ABSTRACT

A template in the form of a rack, for setting tile expeditiously and with accuracy regardless of pattern complexity while minimizing &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;straightening up&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; procedures. This template is a time saving tool when made of moderate size for ease of handling, and multiple units thereof are cooperatively employed as distinguished from large and cumbersome units that are easily damaged with consequently developed imperfections. This template is of characteristic quadrilateral plan configuration having tile receiving pockets sized and shaped according to the tile to be set, and the pockets arranged according to the pattern thereof that is desired. The marginal members of interengaged templates are disposed so as to mate and jointly occupy the joints between the tile which are later grouted; and the rack members which space the tile are held positioned above the tile supporting floor or base by means of localized supports that depend within the confines of the said joints between the said tile.

United States Patent Schmidt Dec. 4, 1973 TILE SETTING TEMPLATE HenrySchmidt, 1 1 11 12th St., Santa Monica, Calif. 90403 [22] Filed: Aug.11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 170,703

[76] lnventor:

52 us. c1 33/180 R, 33/174 0, 33/DIG. 2o 51 Int. Cl. 6011) 5/16 581Field of Search 33 1746, D10. 20;

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,466,919 4/1949 Sykes33/174 0 2,852,932 9/1958 Cable 33/180 R 2,930,135 3/1960 Rodtz 33/1803,254,417 6/1966 Cannichael 33/180 R Primary Examiner-Robert B. HullAssistant Examiner-Richard R. Steams AttorneyWilliam l-l. Maxwell [57]ABSTRACT A template in the form of a rack, for setting tileexpeditiously and with accuracy regardless of pattern complexity whileminimizing straightening up procedures. This template is a time savingtool when made of moderate size for ease of handling, and multiple unitsthereof are cooperatively employed as distinguished from large andcumbersome units that are easily damaged with consequently developedimperfections. This template is of characteristic quadrilateral planconfiguration having tile receiving pockets sized and shaped accordingto the tile to be-set, and the pockets arranged according to the patternthereof that is desired, The marginal members of interengaged templatesare disposed so as to mate and jointly occupy the joints between .thetile which are later grouted; and the rack members which space the tileare held positioned above the tile supporting floor or base by means oflocalized supports that depend within the confines of the said jointsbetween the said tile.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TILE SETTING TEMPLATE BACKGROUND Tilesetting is a manual process that involves placing individual tiles inalignment with each other and with respect to the corners and edges of afloor or wall. Tile varies in dimension as well as in squareness, andthis presents problems when using ordinary guide lines and straightedges whichrequire the repeated straightening up process. Therefore,tile setting templates are used in order to position tile so as tominimize the repeated process of straightening up, which is usuallyrepeated every few rows of tile. Whereas, when using a template asherein disclosed the straightening up process is usually repeated everyfew frames or every six to 18 rows of tile.

It will be observed that tile setting templates of the typeunderconsideration are moved from one position to another, andheretofore there has been no provision for the adjacent interengagementof a multiplicity of such templates. For example, typical prior arttemplates have marginal configurations which prevents their adjacentinterengagement, and it is therefore necessary to overlap one row oftile with the template each time the template is moved to a new tilesetting position, or the template is merely abutted with the last row ofset tile and more frequent -straightening up is resorted to. In anycase, there is a limit to practical size for such templates, andalignment and straightening up" remains to be a difficult problem.Further, each time that such a template -is moved, extra precaution mustbe taken to remove particles, such as sand which usually adheres to andaccumulates upon the rack members which coextensively contact thesupporting surface in the prior art templates.

FIELD OF INVENTION in multiform and wherein a multiplicity of liketemplates are interengageablein a manner to maintain alignment. With thepresent invention, the template has at least-a pair of opposite marginsand wherein said marginsare interengageable respectively within theconfines of the tile joint that is subsequently grouted. In practice,the template unit is quadrilateral in plan configuration and the twopairs of opposite margins are interengageable.

The art of tile setting involves many difierent patterns and variousshaped tile; for example, running bond, square herringbone, basket andother such patterns; and for example square tile, rectangular tile,hexagonal tile, and others. Therefore, it is an object of this inventionto provide a templateof quadrilateral configuration and withinterengageable opposite margins conducive to receiving whole tileswithout restriction.

With the present invention, complex patterns do not limit theinterengageability while whole tile can project beyond theinterengageable margins of the template.

There are various types of beds upon which tile is set, such as ascreeded layer of sand and cement or a cemented (adhesive) floor, andthe coextensive support of a template upon said bed results in aconstant cleaning requirement as the template picks up particles and-/or the cement (adhesive). Therefore, it is an object of this inventionto provide means positioning the template per se above said bed, anddoing so without interferring with the joint space between the tilebeing SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to improvements intile setting templates comprising a rack of tile separating members 10embraced within the confines of opposite-marginal frame members 11 and12 that define a quadrilateral unit. A characteristic feature ofthe'invention is the capability of interengagement between amultiplicity of templateunits, one being alignably engageable with theother within the confines of the joint or space between the tiles ascreated and/or established by the separating members 10 and the framemembers 11 and 12, all of said members being of the uniform and requiredthickness establishing the joint to be grouted. A characteristic featureof the invention is the provision of legs 13 which depend from the rackto a uniform supporting plane with the rack of said members held aboveand in spaced relation to said plane.

scription of the typical preferred forms and applications thereof,throughout which description reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are plan views of three typical tile setting patternsand typically distinctive tile configurations; FIG. 1 illustratingaconventional square pattern; FIG. 2 illustrating a square herringbonepattern; and FIG. 3 illustrating a hexagonal pattern. FIGS. 4 and 5 areenlarged detailed fragmentary views taken as indicated bylines 44 and5-5 on FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a perspective' view illustrating a comerportion of the template shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7is a perspective viewillustrating a comer portion of the template shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 8is a perspective-view illustrating a corner portion of the templateshown inFIG. 3;

'. "PREFERREQ EMBODIMENT I members 10 can be arranged as required toestablish the desired pattern for setting tile, while the frame membersll and 12 can be embraced therearound with variations as will beobserved from an examination of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8illustrating threetypical pocket configurations for the tile. Note that the margins of thequadrilateral rack are continuous in one example and interrupted in theother two examples, so as to permit the reception of whole the in thelocating pockets, but without adverse effect upon the adjacentinterengagement herein after described. In FIG. lthe tile is square andset in a square pattern, in which case the frame members 11 and 12 areadvantageously continuous. In FIG. 2 the tile is rectangular and set ina square herringbone pattern, in which case the frame members 1 l and 12are necessarily interrupted. And, in FIG. 3 the tile is hexagonal andset in a corresponding honeycomb of adjacently related tile settingpockets 14 are comprised of right angularly disposed Separating membersfitted together in corner to corner relation, with the joints or spacesestablished by the thickness of the members which ar aligned so that thejoints are continuously straight. In practice with Quarry Tile, theseparating members 10 are one-eighth inch thick and onefourth inch deep,and all are of this identical cross section and welded or brazed orotherwise fused together where they join at the pocket corners. In thispattern configuration it is most practicalto provide continuouslongitudinal members 10 and interrupted transverse members 10 joined tothe frame members in abutted relationship with the tops and bottoms ofall said members coplanar respectively. The frame members 11 and 12embrace the pattern comprised of the separating members 10, and inaccordance with this invention the said frame members are provided inpairs that are opposite and thereby adapted to be interengageable. Thatis, one member 11 of one template unit is interengageable with theopposite member 12 of a second template unit, and so on, this feature ofinterengageability being true of side to side extension of one unit fromanother as well as end to end extension thereof. Accordingly, the framemembers 11 and 12 key together within the confines of the joint or spaceto be established between adjacent tiles, in this instance a one-eighthinch space for the grouted joint. Therefore, the upper half portion ofthe joint is occupied by the frame member 11 and the lower half portionof the joint is occupied by the frame member 12; the frame member 11being welded, brazed or otherwise fused to the outer margins of the unitflush with the top plane thereof; the frame member 12 being welded,brazed or otherwise fused to the outer margins of the unit flush withthe bottom plane thereof. It will be apparent that the two pairs of endframe members and side frame members 11 and 12 are complementary andtogether occupy across section identical to that of any one of theseparating members 10. A feature of the quadrilateral frame is that theend and side members 11 and-12 abut in upper and lower planes atdiagonally opposite corners; that is, the members 11 abut at one comerwhile the members 12 abut at the opposite corner of the frame.Altemately, the end and side members 11 and 12 would overlap at theother diagonally opposite comers of the frame, ex cept that theyterminate short of these comers as clearly shown throughout the drawings(see FIGS. 6 and 7), in order to provide for universal end to end andside to side interengagement of the templates.

The squared herringbone pattern for setting tile is shown embodied inthe template of FIGS. 2 and 7 wherein the plurality of adjacentlyrelated tile setting pockets 14' are comprised of right angularlydisposed separating members 10' fitted together in normal relation andwhich are aligned so that the joints are discontinuous. That is, thejoints are interrupted by the pattem characterized by elongatedlyrectangular tiles arranged in normal side to end relation, in which caseeach joint" continues the length of one tile plus the width of another,as clearly shown in FIG. 2; and said discontinuity repeatedly occursalong the margins of the templates at the ends and sides thereof whichare comprised of the interengageable frame members 11' and 12.Accordingly, the frame members 11' and 12' stop where they areinterrupted by the pattern of tiles that will intermittently protrudefrom the margins of the template where said frame members are abuttedand joined to the terminating separating members 10, as shown.

The hexagonal pattern for setting tile is shown embodied in the templateof FIGS. 3 and 8 wherein the plurality of adjacently relat 'ed tilesetting pockets 14" are comprised of angularly disposed separatingmembers I0" fitted together in relation with the joints between adjacenttiles at opposite corners diametrically aligned so that the said joints"are discontinuous. Note that there are six joint alignments in thispattern, and one of which is employed at the sides of the templateinvolving the frame members 11'' and 21" (much the same as describedabove with the herringbone pattern). That is, the joints are interruptedby the pattern characterized by the truncated portions of whole tilesthat will protrude from the margins of the template; and saiddiscontinuity repeatedly occurs along the margins of the template at theends and at the sides thereof. In the template now under consideration,the side frame member 1 l and 12" are in straight alignment the same ashereinabove described, whereas the end frame members are angularlyzigzagged 30 as shown in order to coincide with the patternconfiguration. Accordingly, the end frame members 11' arecorrespondingly disposed, the frame member 11" at one end of thetemplate being flush with the top plane and the frame member 11" at theother end being flush with the bottom plane thereof, and the two beingcomplementary so as to occupy the joint space between the tiles. 7

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the legs 13 are providedon the separating members 10 within the confines of the frame members 11and 12, and to the end that the interengageability is not encumbered. Inpractice, several localized legs 13 are employed in sufficient numbersas may-be required to stabilizethe particular pattern involved.Normally, four to six such legs will suffice and in the case of QuarryTile and the aftermentioned dimensions thereof, the legs are of the samewidth as the separating members and depend therefrom one-eighth inch.Thus, the template is three-eighths inch in depth and spaces the QuarryTile oneeighth'inch for grouting there between.

Manipulation and handling is facilitated by the provision of upstandinghandles 15 one of which is shown in FIG. 7, whereby the template islifted and by which it is repositioned.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the templaterack is held abovethe supporting surface by means of localized legs which are cleansedwith far greater facility than cleaning of the entire template-rackbefore each repositioning of 'the same. The .unit size of the templateis minimized and multiple units thereof coopdled with greater facilityand to greater advantage.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of myinvention, 1 do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anymodifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. interengageable templates of basically rectangular plan form forsetting of tiles of predetermined shape and in a predetermined patternand each comprising; a rack of rectangularly cross sectioned separatingmembers of uniform width and depth forming openings in a repeatedpattern for receiving and spacing the tiles,

a frame member at one margin of the rack and occupying the upper portionof space between tiles, and a frame member at the opposite margin of therack and occupying the lower portion of space between tiles, one framemember of one template being overlapped with the opposite frame memberof another template for mutually positioned interengageability whenextending said pattern by means of mating the said frame membetweenwhich tiles are received.

1. Interengageable templates of basically rectangular plan form forsetting of tiles of predetermined shape and in a predetermined patternand each comprising; a rack of rectangularly cross sectioned separatingmembers of uniform width and depth forming openings in a repeatedpattern for receiving and spacing the tiles, a frame member at onemargin of the rack and occupying the upper portion of space betweentiles, and a frame member at the opposite margin of the rack andoccupying the lower portion of space beTween tiles, one frame member ofone template being overlapped with the opposite frame member of anothertemplate for mutually positioned interengageability when extending saidpattern by means of mating the said frame members of the two suchtemplates together into a uniform tile spacing cross sectioncorresponding to the first mentioned cross sections of the separatingmembers.
 2. The interengageable tile setting templates as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the frame members at the said one and opposite marginsof the rack are continuously coextensive with said margins respectively.3. The interengageable tile setting template as set forth in claim 1 andwherein the frame members at the said one and opposite margins of therack are interrupted and extend between spaced separating membersbetween which tiles are received.